Open debate

Charlie Weis exceeded expectations of even the most optimistic Notre Dame fans in his first season as Fighting Irish coach. Weis' prizes for going 9-3 and getting the Irish back into the BCS: a fat contract extension and more preseason hype than any disciple of Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick could tolerate.

"I've been involved with three different programs that, after having a good year, everyone got caught up and we had a bad year," Weis said. "It happened twice in New England and once with the Jets where we had a good year and then we had a setback."

Adding to the blaring Notre Dame buzz is quarterback Brady Quinn, already considered the Heisman Trophy front-runner.

One season under Weis' tutelage had Quinn looking like Tom Brady. Quinn passed for 3,919 yards and 32 touchdowns last season. Another season just like it might be enough to make him the first Notre Dame Heisman winner since Tim Brown in 1987.

Other players who enter the season with Heisman momentum are Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith and his teammate, receiver Ted Ginn Jr., and Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, the 2004 Heisman runner-up as a freshman.

Smith, a smaller version of Vince Young who can win games with his arm or legs, and Ginn fuel an offense with head-spinning speed that could redefine "Tresselball" in Columbus.

Under coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes have made a living — and won a national title — with stingy defense, low-risk offense and clutch kicking. These Buckeyes are all about offense, having said goodbye to linebacker A.J. Hawk and seven other starters from one of the country's best defenses last season.

As difficult as replacing Hawk and two other NFL first-round draft choices will be for Ohio State, it's a minor renovation compared to the Carroll's extreme makeover at USC. Texas snapped the Trojans' 34-game winning streak in the Rose Bowl. This season, USC must replace Heisman Trophy winners Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, plus LenDale White and several other players currently in NFL training camps.

Carroll will reach deep into his bag of blue chips for replacements.

"Losing a Heisman winner has happened to us before," said USC center Ryan Kalil. "We know we have guys that are going to rise to the challenge."

Stepping in for Leinart at quarterback will be John David Booty, who's been waiting for three seasons. Unless, of course, redshirt freshman phenom Mark Sanchez beats him out.

Texas coach Mack Brown doesn't have quite as many holes to fill, but boy does he have one huge one.